Trial 3 v Flagstaff Hill

Season 2018 is just around the corner. This Saturday the Blackwood Football Club has its final preparations for the season with a full club trial day against Flagstaff Hill Football Club. All Hills Football League teams will be in action during the day: Under 14s, 16s, 18s, B Grade and A Grade

Flagstaff Hill will be a formidable opponent having won the last two A Grade premierships in the Southern Football League. A Grade coach Damien Salievic said he the trial offered the chance to complete final preparations for the season. “We have put in a lot of hard work across the pre-season. The third trial offers the opportunity to dot the I’s and cross the t’s in preparation for Round 1 against Mt Lofty next weekend.”

Game details

Where – Flagstaff Hill Oval
When – 7 April 2018

Flagstaff Hill Oval

The opponent

As mentioned above, Flagstaff Hill will be a formidable opponent in all grades. In 2017, the A Grade won the premiership, finished runners up in the B Grade and Under 17.5s, won the premiership in the Under 15s and finished fourth in the Under 13s

In the A Grade the Falcons finished at the competitions with the highest positive differential (+67.3). This differential saw an average points for per match of 118.9 and only 51.7 points against per match. Flagstaff Hill were the best side for attack in the Southern Football League and second for defence (Noarlunga finished #1 with only 46.8 points against).

Compared the Hills Football League, the Southern Football League has a much higher average total score per match (178.6 to 151.8). It must be noted their were some significant wins across the season and hence a biased towards these matches.

Players to watch

Having won back to back premierships, the Falcons have a talented side across the park. Possessing a quick side with skills, the Falcons attempt to run teams off their legs with a highly entertaining game to watch. Some falcons players which will grab the eye include:

Sam Smith

Smith is a powerhouse forward of the competition kicking multiple bags of goals across many seasons. Trying his luck at Sturt acouple of seasons ago, Smith moved back to Flagstaff Hill and had an outstanding season in 2017. He kicked 87 goals across 18 matches to lead the competition goal kicking and was named in the best players on 11 occasions. His highest haul in 2017 was in 11 against OSB Lonsdale where he kicked 14 goals.

Bradley Kirk

Kirk was one of four players to play every match for the Falcons in 2017 and was one of their most influential players being named in the best players on eight occasions.

Michael Shearer

Despite only playing 12 matches during 2017 (2 of which were finals), Shearer had a dominate year for the Falcons being named in the best players on 7 occasions and kicking 22 goals. These efforts saw him finish runner up in the Southern Football League Mail Medal polling 18 votes to finish 2 behind Thomas Dix from Port Noarlunga.